Kelly Doust introduces readers to her wonderful world of reviving and customising vintage pieces, while bringing a modern and unique twist to wearing vintage clothes – Dita Von Teese
Craft for fidgeters
Tea cosy one
I’m restless. As far as relaxing goes, I think I’ve lost the knack.
Behold, the evidence: two tea cosies salvaged from leftover Echino & Liberty fabrics, and a decorated doily thingummy for afternoon tea parties. I had the urge to make something useful – can you tell how I spend my time these days if these are the first items which spring to mind?
Sew be it
Tea cosy two: front
Tea cosy two: back
Calico & Ivy goodness
And a bag full of goodies from Calico & Ivy. Told you I was heading over there quicksmart. What a divine, delicious shop. And they were lovely to Olive, too.
Calico & Ivy
Great to hear this popular Perth store has opened new digs in Sydney. I haven’t been in yet, but planning to scoot on over and pick up some Liberty print asap – they appear to stock a vast amount, along with wonderful Milla Mia patterns (featured here earlier).
Calico & Ivy
10 Birchgrove Rd
Balmain
Monique Germon’s STORY
Tamara Maynes cross-stitch
Oh I love this new online store with products I’ve not seen elsewhere:
“STORY is the curation of ideas through product, word & the exploration of a new kind of narrative. We take pleasure in exhibiting the work of individuals who make a significant contribution through the production of exceptional art & design. We also take great pleasure in exhibiting the brands of like-minded others that produce items that transcend conventional market standards. STORY reveres authenticity above all & pays homage to this as a style unto itself. In other words, we were born rural and remain so. Most importantly, we honour the act of storytelling as an art form.”
- Monique Germon, Proprietor
Amelia Earheart collar
Sienna the Bookblock table
Storybook brooch II
Unwritten Book notebook
Tara Badcock tea cosy
Terribly fab Tessuti
Trip the light fantastic
A while before xmas I went hunting about for some fabrics and embellishment to zhoosh up a couple of otherwise-plain vintage finds for the party season (a fifties bolero made from a rich ottoman fabric, and a simple black sheath dress). Here’s what I found at the ever-inspiring Tessuti. I could never grow bored of this place!
The Surry Hills branch - a trove for wedding lace
Marvellous Missoni
Love Liberty
And all that jazz
Feeling vintage
Manning the book stall at the Coffs Harbour Vintage Fair
We’ve just returned from a few days in Coffs Harbour, where I was speaking at the Vintage Fashion Fair and reading from A Life in Frocks. Thank you to the lovely blog readers who travelled from near & far to say hello, and to organiser Jeanette Luke, owner of From Here to Eternity, for inviting me to attend.
If you’re in Sydney this weekend a couple of the same dealers – including Coco Repose – will be trading at Becky Sharp’s Vanity Fair vintage market, held from 10-5 at the Paddington RSL on Saturday. Go forth and plunder a fab frock or two…
From Here to Eternity's Vintage Swimsuit exhibition
Jess Guthrie's Coco Repose stall
Feathered friend in stunning fuscia, Coco Repose
New from Ginny & Jude
Quite Contrary Boater with individual corsage detail
Stunning – that’s the only word for the new, vintage-inspired and handmade Summer collection from Ginny & Jude designer, Rabia Lockwood. Love love love (that’s three ‘loves’… can you tell how much I love it? Maybe I should add a fourth…)
Croquet by the Lake headpiece
Sweetheart of the Meadow straw hat
Say it Isn't So headband
Olive's Playing Tennis cap
Rabia will be at the next Finders Keepers in December, along with various other favourite designers such as Made by White… don’t miss out.
The Quilted Crow
New premises for The Quilted Crow
This beautiful Hobart haberdashery, specialising in hand-dyed felt and quilting materials, has just moved to new premises – a gorgeous old sandstone church in New Town. See here for an earlier post on the delights of The Quilted Crow.
Craftiness… close to godliness? It is now.
The Quilted Crow
At the old church
Cnr Cross St & Main Road (New Town Rd)
New Town, Tasmania
03 6228 3319
Calico & Co., Inside Out & new from Polli
Samantha Harris sports Polli Limited Edition
Graphic designer and prolific blogger Amanda Fuller is the woman behind inspired blog, Calico & Co. Check out her xmas 2010 links, handmade gift lists and ideas… very handy if you’re panicking at the sight of all those decorations in the shops already. And click here to read her interview with me recently – thanks Amanda!
Inside Out’s special Christmas issue is also giving me a mini-meltdown with all its ideas for chrissy chic. See the latest issue, which also features an interview with favourite handmade jewellery & homewares designers, design duo Tess & Maja from Polli.
Woven butterfly wing earrings from Polli
Want, want: leather & stainless steel leaves necklace from Polli
MillaMia at Magnolia Square
Nina dress by MillaMia
There’s much sewing going on in my house, in my house… but one day, I will knit. And when I do, the chic, Swedish simplicity of MillaMia‘s patterns will be top of my To Do list. I bought a few of these books for knitting-mad friends earlier in the year. Check out their website for new additions – cushions, stockings and children’s clothing patterns – or pop along to visit them at Magnolia Square this weekend.
Elk cushion
Stripy toes
'Helena' cardigan & scarf
Hip hampers & fab florals
Pastel posy arrangement
Loving these divine floral arrangements and hampers from seriously chic online shop, The Hamper Store. I know what I’m sending friends for Christmas this year, in addition to the handmade. And the next new mum in my circle’s getting that fresh fruit hamper. Just gorgeous.
Hooray for interstate delivery, too.
The Wellbeing hamper
Christmas hamper